Convertible bed



y 3, 1966 .1. K JOHNSON 3,248,742

CONVERTIBLE BED Filed Nov. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I A I INVENTOR. FIG, 2 JOHN KENNETH JOHNSON AT TORNEYS y 3, 1966 J. K. JOHNSON 3,248,742

CONVERTIBLE BED Filed Nov. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet a FIG. 5

F L a INVENTOR. J JOHN KENNETH JOHNSON FIG. 4 BY WWW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,248,742 CONVERTIBLE BED John Kenneth Johnson, 9 1st St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,490

2 Claims. (Cl. 53)

This invention relates to a convertible bed and more particularly relates to an attachment for a conventional bed which enables the bed to be used as a sofa during the day.

Hotel rooms, which are normally equipped with beds for sleeping purposes, are frequently used during the day as display rooms or meeting rooms, requiring the use of a number of chairs or other additional furniture. Guests are ordinarily reluctant to sit on a bed and the bed itself is uncomfortable to sit on, so the bed is largely wasted when the room is used for normal day-time uses.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple structure whereby a conventional bed can be converted for use as a sofa.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unit for converting a bed to a sofa wherein the conversion element serves as a headboard for night-time use and as a backrest for day-time use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a unit wherein the headboard for night-time use contains shelves or other storage space.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a conversion unit for converting a bed to a sofa wherein detent means are employed to hold bolster elements in either of two positions.

Other objects will be apparent from the balance of the specification which follows.

In the drawing forming a part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bed with the conversion unit of the present invention in use thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the conversion unit.

FIGURE 3 is a detail in section showing the manner in which the bolster unit can be locked in place.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, partial, exploded view of the post construction employed in FIGURES 4 and 5.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a bed 4 having a vertical pivot structure 6 at the head thereof which serves to support bolster units which have been generally designated 8 and 10. Preferably the bolster elements are cut out as at 7 and 9 to partially or wholly conceal pivot 6.

The vertical pivot structure 6 may be either fastened to the bed itself or may have an independent floor stand. The bolster units 8 and 10 may be extended from the pivot member at an angle of 180 to each other as is shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1, so that the structure can be used as a regular bed with the bolster units 8 and 10 forming a headboard, or the units may be swung together, as is shown in dashed linesin FIGURE 1 so that the bolster units'form a backrest, leaving a U-shaped seating area on the bed which will accommodate a number of people in a seated position. The bolster elements themselves preferably have upholstered end members 12 as well as upholstered outer surfaces 14. The top surface 17 may or may not be upholstered. The inner surface can have one or more shelves 16 formed therein so that when the units are swung outwardly for night-time use, as is shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1, the shelves 16 can be used for storage of small articles. The employment of shelves is an optional feature and they may or may not be employed.

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The bolster elements are supported by a collar 18 on the vertical pivot structure 6 and are mounted for rotation thereon by the ring members 20, which are preferably four in number, and alternately connected to the two bolster elements.

If desired, the structure of the present invention can be used with end tables 22 which will support the outer ends of the bolsters, although these end tables are not essential to carrying out the invention.

Means are preferably provided for locking the bolster elements in either of the two selected positions. Thus, as is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a plurality of holes as at 24 and 26, are provided in the vertical pivot structure 6, two of the holes representing the position of the bolster in the extended position and two representing the position of the bolster in a closed position. Pins 28 extend outwardly from each of the bolsters and are normally urged into an extended position by means of the springs 30. Wires 32 extend from pins 28 to rings 34 mounted .on each end of'the bolster. Thus, when the bed is made up for night-time use, the pins 28 will extend into the outermost holes on the vertical pivot member 6 and thus will be prevented from turning movement.

When it is desired to change the bed over for day-time use, it is only necessary to pull out the rings 34, pulling the pins 28 out of the holes, swing the bolsters together as is shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 1, and then release the rings 34 whereupon the pins will fall into the inner holes. This will lock the structure into position for day-time use, and it is only necessary to reverse the procedure to reconvert the bed for night-time use.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 through 6, there is shown another embodiment of invention wherein a floor stand 40 supports two upright posts 42 and 44. The posts 42 and 44 are tubular and each has a telescoping rod or tube respectively designated 46 and 48 each of which supports one of the bolster elements 50 and 52. Each of the tubular elements 42 and 44 has two notches therein as is illustrated in FIGURE 6, namely, a first notch 54 and a second notch 56 at right angles thereto. The telescopof the notches. Thus, the pin 58 can be placed in notch 54 holding the bolster 50 in the night-time position, as is shown in solid lines in FIGURE 4, or by raising the bolster slightly so that the pin clears the notch, it can be swung around so that the pin engages the notch 56 holding the bolster in the day-time position shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 4. It will be obvious that the structure of the opposite side will be a mirror image of the structure thusfar described. In this embodiment of the invention, the supporting structure is almost fully concealed regardless of the position of the bolster. Although the tubular elements have been shown as being attached to a floor stand, it is'obvious that the tubular elements could form part of the structure of the bed.

Although the device has been'described for use with two bolsters on a double bed, it is obvious that a single bolster and support may be used in the same manner.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simple yet effective unit which can be attached to any bed so that the bed can serve as a sofa for daytime use.

I claim:

1. A convertible bed comprising in combination:

(a) a bed;

(b) a vertical pivot structure supported at the head of the bed;

(0) a pair of bolster elements supported on the pivot structure;

(d) the bolster elements being operable in a first position adjacent each other to form a backrest on the bed and when in a second position at an angle of 3 4 substantially 180 to each other to form a headboard 1,842,208 1/ 1932 Schneider 5-52 X beyond the bed for the bed. 2,471,977 5/ 1949 Power 5329 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the bolster ele- 2,610,329 9/1952 Strafhaus 559 ments are provided with shelves, which shelves are con- 2,656,548 10/1953 Blanke et a1 5--59 cealed when th bolsters are in said first position and 5 2,679,653 6/1954 Bl anke et a1 5-12 exposed when the bolsters are in said second position. 2,866,496 12/1958 Glass 5--52 X 2,933,737 4/1960 Schiffmann 5308 References Qited by the Examiner 3,054, 41 9 19 2 s i 297 333 UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,412 12/1885 Lindner 5*52 X 10 FRANK B. SHERRY, Przmary Exammer.

390,703 10/1883 Phillips 5 X R. B. FARLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONVERTIBLE BED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A BED; (B) A VERTICAL PIVOT STRUCTURE SUPPORTED AT THE HEAD OF THE BED; (C) A PAIR OF BOLSTER ELEMENTS SUPPORTED ON THE PIVOT STRUCTURE; (D) THE BOLSTER ELEMENTS BEING OPERABLE IN A FIRST POSITION ADJACENT EACH OTHER TO FORM A BACKREST ON THE BED AND WHEN IN A SECOND POSITION AT AN ANGLE OF SUBSTANTIALLY 180* TO EACH OTHER TO FORM A HEADBOARD BEYOND THE BED FOR THE BED. 